MANILA, PHILIPPINES – MARCH 18, 2021 – The latest Mastercard Philippines Contactless Study has found that even though cash remains the main payment mode in the country, accounting for one-third of consumers’ monthly spending, contactless payment methods are widely recognized by consumers.
The study revealed that more than 70 percent of those with contactless cards used their contactless card in-store over the past year with 40 percent making a contactless payment purchase at least once a week. Additionally, 40 percent of those who did not use contactless card payments in the past year cited security concerns as their reason for not using the payment method more often. Hacking and wireless skimming were the top security concerns for 86 percent and 82 percent of consumers, respectively.
A key highlight in the study is the important roles that different stakeholders play in helping consumers to adopt this new payment technology. 21 percent of cardholders first learned to use their contactless cards through self-discovery, while 19 percent obtained instructions from bank employees, and 17 percent were informed by cashiers. This trend indicates that banks and merchants play an important role in driving awareness and confidence in contactless payments.
“Mastercard is ramping up efforts to help issuers, acquirers and merchants further drive contactless transactions by providing these industry players with data, insights, best practices and execution support starting with a deeper understanding of consumers’ motivations and concerns when choosing payment methods,” said Rowell Del Fierro, Country Manager, Philippines, Mastercard.
The study notes that 86 percent of consumers in the country are aware of contactless cards, with faster transactions and hygiene being the key factors driving contactless cards adoption. A large number of consumers at 46 percent say that they used contactless cards as it is faster than other payment methods. On the other hand, 38 percent of consumers use contactless cards for hygiene concerns.
“To accelerate the uptake of contactless card payments, Mastercard is also closely working with industry partners, to implement initiatives, programs, and technology solutions that successfully enable businesses of all sizes to meet evolving needs of today’s customers,” added Del Fierro.
Mastercard is committed to drive contactless solutions and digital payment usage among consumers and businesses alike. This is in support of the thrust of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to promote the digitalization of payments in the country and to convert 50 percent of the total volume of retail payments into digital form by 2023.
About the Mastercard Philippines Contactless Study
The Mastercard Philippines Contactless Study is a consumer market-research report aimed at exploring awareness and adoption of contactless payments among consumers in the Philippines. Representatives of the online population that own a credit, debit or prepaid card, spread across demography and with a sample size of 1,000, were surveyed on their use of contactless payments, barriers to use, and preferred incentives for use, in October 2020.
About Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
Mastercard Communications Contact
Ailea Zialcita, +63 917 327 4957
Ailea.Zialcita@mastercard.com
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